
Prelude Ventures
Description
Prelude Ventures is a prominent venture capital firm established in 2009, headquartered in San Francisco, and singularly focused on investing in climate-centric companies. The firm's expansive investment thesis covers a broad spectrum of critical sectors essential for global decarbonization and sustainability, including energy, food and agriculture, advanced materials, transportation, industrial efficiency, and water. Prelude Ventures is committed to identifying and nurturing innovative solutions that directly address the challenges of climate change, aiming to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable global economy through strategic capital and active partnership.
The firm primarily targets early-stage companies, with a strong emphasis on Seed, Series A, and Series B financing rounds. Prelude Ventures often takes on the role of a lead or co-lead investor, providing not only essential capital but also strategic guidance and operational support to its portfolio companies. Their typical initial check sizes range from $1 million to $10 million, reflecting their commitment to foundational investments in promising climate technologies. This investment strategy allows them to engage deeply with founders, helping to scale nascent solutions from early development to significant market impact.
Prelude Ventures has consistently expanded its capital base, demonstrating a growing conviction in the climate tech sector's potential. They have successfully raised multiple funds, with their most recent, Fund IV, closing at $250 million. This latest fund brings their total capital under management to over $700 million, underscoring their substantial and sustained commitment to the climate space. The firm's long-term perspective, coupled with its deep domain expertise, positions it to identify and support companies poised for both significant environmental benefits and robust economic returns.
Investor Profile
Prelude Ventures has backed more than 143 startups, with 10 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 39 rounds, about 27% of its total and boasts 14 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series A, Series B, Series C rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Canada, Kenya.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Energy, Renewable Energy.
- Led 6 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $1M – $10M.
Stage Focus
- Series A (29%)
- Series B (22%)
- Series C (15%)
- Seed (13%)
- Series Unknown (10%)
- Series D (7%)
- Series E (3%)
- Convertible Note (1%)
- Series F (1%)
Country Focus
- United States (93%)
- Canada (5%)
- Kenya (1%)
- Australia (1%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Energy
- Renewable Energy
- Manufacturing
- Cleantech
- Biotechnology
- Analytics
- Food Processing
- Agtech
- Food And Beverage
Frequently Asked Questions
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